Magda Mayas

Magda Mayas, born 1979, is a pianist living in Berlin.
Developing a vocabulary utilizing both the inside as well as the exterior parts of the piano, using preparations and objects, she explores textural, linear and fast moving sound collage.

Alongside the piano, Mayas has recently been performing on a Clavinet/Pianet, an electric piano from the 60s with strings and metal chimes, where she engages with noise and more visceral sound material, equally extending the instrumental sound palette using extended techniques and devices. Mayas performs internationally solo and in collaboration with a large number of musicians and composers. Current projects are "Spill", a duo with drummer Tony Buck, a duo with Christine Abdelnour (sax) and "Great Waitress", a trio with Monika Brooks (acc) and Laura Altman (cl).
She is currently undertaking Phd studies at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden and investigating extended instrumental techniques, spectral music and psychoacoustics in an improvised music context.
Since 2013 she has also been producing radio pieces for ABC Australia and Deutschlandradio Kultur and has released 20 CDS to date. Magda Mayas has performed and toured in Europe, the USA, Australia, Mexico and Lebanon and collaborated with many leading figures in improvisation and composers such as John Butcher, Andy Moor, Zeena Parkins, Joelle Leandre, Paul Lovens, Ikue Mori, Phill Niblock, Peter Evans, Andrea Neumann and Axel Dörner. She has performed at festivals and exhibitions such as Maerz Musik (2012,2015), Documenta (2012) or the Berlin Biennale (2014).

Press Quotes

"Mayas has an ingenious way of using both the inside and keyboard of the piano to create sparse tiny fragments of motion that are compatible with multiple layers of the musical context (..) she is definately a leading light of the next generation of improvisers. "Michael Anton Parker, Downtown Music Gallery, NY

"The piano is the piano throughout, but Mayas knows how to pull out so many more of the instrument, the scraping, bowing and plucking that this fifty minute release is a breathtaking work."Frans de Waard - vitalweekly

"Heartland is great, a real tour de force of solo, entirely acoustic improvisatio ( ..... ) this CD is not about innovation or technique, but it is a fine example of one musician using their undoubted skill to portray strong, emotional music in a very direct, powerful manner. Another really good one."Richard Pinnell, The Watchful Ear

"It [Heartland] is one of the widest and deepest adventures into the sonic heart of the piano, including its entire cardiovascular system attached to it (...) It is so powerful that it's captivating."Stef Gijssels

"The real success of Heartland lies not just in the sounds that Mayas produces, but in the way that they are put together into a coherent and compelling performance. Across its two extended tracks, the energy and invention of the album never flags. It maintains a forward momentum that draws the listener in. (...) On occasions here, she generates such a variety of sounds that it is difficult to believe they all emanate from one woman plus one piano."John Eyles : All about Jazz